Electric timepiece with date dial

ABSTRACT

A setting mechanism for an electric timepiece including adjustment elements mounted for pivotal movement by a setting shaft. The setting shaft is shiftable axially between a plurality of functional positions so that the adjustment elements will either engage a date disk or a mechanism for the timepiece hands and impart thereto a pivotal motion to thereby set the date disk and the hands to the desired position. A resilient restoring means, cooperating with a stop means, automatically provides a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;neutral&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position for the adjustment elements, disengaged from the date disk and hour wheel.

United States Patent Ganter et al.-

[ 54] ELECTRIC I'INIEPIECE WITH DATE [72] Inventors: Wolfgang Gunter, Schramberg-Sulgen; Heinz Otto, Rotenbe g; Josef King, Schramberg-Sulgen, all of I Germany g 73 Assignee'u Gebruder Junghans G.m.b.l -l.;

Schramberg, Germany I 122 Filed: March 8,1971

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Y March 1 1, 1970 Germany..........Pv20 ll 568.8

[52] us. Cl "58/5, 58/58 51 Int. Cl. ..G04b 19/24 [58] Field of Search .58/4, 5, 58, 85.5

[is] 3,703,805 51 Nov. 28,1972

[56] 5 References Cited v UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,576,100 4/1971 Vogt ..ss/ss Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Edith C. Simmons J ackmon Attomejy-Bums, Doane, Swecker & Mathis 57 ABSTRACT Y A setting mechanism for an electric timepiece including adjustment elements mounted for pivotal movement by a setting shaft. The setting shaft is shiftable axially between a plurality of functional positions so that the adjustment elements will either engage a date disk or a mechanism for the timepiece hands and impart thereto a pivotal motion to thereby set the date disk and the hands'to the desired position. A resilient restoring means,- cooperating with a stop means, automatically provides a neutr position for the adjustment elements, disengaged from the date disk and hour wheel.

10 Clains, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDunvz's I972 SHEET 3 BF 4 1 ELECTRIC TIMEPIECE WITH DATE DIAL I BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an electric timepiece. More particularly, this invention relates to an electric calendar timepiece having a date dial and adjusting elements for setting the date and hour hands as desired. The adjusting elements can be brought into engagement with either a date disk ,or a mechanism for setting the hands, by an axial shifting of a setting shaft.

In the case of mechanically driven timepieces, espewise unused position of the setting shaft for correction cially in the case of wrist watches, it is generally custo- I mary to use the settingshaft in itsinside or closed position for winding up the main'spring, and in its outside or extended position for setting of the hour hands.

I A timepiece with a date disk as well as with a setting shaft and a mechanism for adjustment of the hands is also known. In this case, the setting shaft may assume three different positions.- At the same time, the standard position of the setting shaft is used for winding the main spring.

In the case of electric timepieces, the winding of the main spring is eliminated so that the setting shaft is used only for setting the hands or correction of the date. In order to prevent, in thiscase, an unintended shifting of the hands or of the hands or of the date disk, an additional standard positioning of the setting shaft is provided in which the setting shaft is disengaged from the date disk and from the mechanism for setting the hands. Therefore, an additional position of the setting shaft is necessary. 7

It would, therefore, be desirable to provide an electric timepiece having a setting shaft shiftable to one of a plurality of functional positions.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an'electric timepiece having a setting shaft shiftable to one of a plurality of functional positions in which either a date disk or mechanism for setting the timepiece hour hands is actuated through adjusting elements to which 7 cam or latch, upon pivoting of the adjusting element in one direction, engages either a date disk or an hour wheel and causes a shifting of the engaged disk or wheel. However, when the adjusting element is restored in the opposite pivotal direction, further permanent shifting of either the date disk or the hour wheel does not take place.

The return spring will bring the adjusting element, in

'case the setting shaft has been released, to a rest posi tion in which the cam or latch will remain unengaged with the date disk or the hour wheel.

Preferably, the return spring is developed and arranged in such a way that, in case of a movement of the adjusting element from its rest position, the spring becomes cocked or stressed. This cocking develops a return force. This return force will reach a maximum watches, is indispensible.

of the date and/or adjustment of the time zones. At the same time an influencing of the hands during correction of the date or an influencing of the date disk during adjustment of the time zones can be avoided with certainty, something which in the case of precise timekeeping pieces, particularly quartz controlled The adjusting element may consist of a pivotably mounted adjusting disk, whose plane lies in a plane generally parallel to that of a date disk. This adjusting disk is provided with two bent lobes, one of which engages with teeth provided on the date disk or the hour value upon passing a certain position of the adjusting wheel, while the other lobe engages a return spring. The latter lobe acts as a stop to limit the pivotal movement of the adjusting disk. I

The adjusting element may be fixedly arranged in relation to' an axial direction and may be coupled with a setting shaft by means of a coupling operated by axial shifting of the setting shaft. Alternatively, the adjusting element may be arranged to be shiftablejn an axial direction by the setting shaft. In either case, the adjusting element may be capable of being brought into the area of the date disk or the hour wheel, according to choice.

A return spring may be provided whichresiliently and yieldably urges the adjusting element into a neutral central or rest position. The adjusting element may be pivotable into two end positions from this central position, whereby a cam or a latch in one end position is brought into active connection with the date disk, and in the otherend position another cam or other latch is brought into active connection with the hour wheel.

For an adjustment of the time zones, an hour indicating means may be provided with two hour wheels that can rotate relative to each other and which are connected with one another, preferably by a resilient but yieldable connecting means. For this purpose, for example, one hour wheel may be axially shiftable on mounting shaft means counter to the bias of a spring, while the other hour wheel is axially fixed and the two wheels are clutchingly interconnected by means of ball detents located in step holes arranged on the wheels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description thereof in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view in elevation through a watch mechanism taken along line 1-1 of FIG. 2, showing an watch hands;

FIG. 2 is a partial top view of the watch mechanism of FIG. 1 taken along line [1-11 of FIG, 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view in elevation through another embodiment of a watch mechanism taken along line III-III of FIG. 4, showing a watch mechanism in which the final adjusting element is shiftable through the setting shaft in an axial direction;

adjusting device for a date disk and through another embodiment of a watch mechanism taken along line VV of FIG. 6, showing a watch mechanism with a modified adjusting device;

FIG. 6 is a partial top view of the watch mechanism according to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view in elevation through another embodiment of a watch mechanism taken along line VII-VII, showing a watch mechanism in which the setting shaft is shiftable in a plane parallel to the plane of the adjusting element;

FIG. 8 isa partial top view of the watch according to'FIG. 7; and j FIG. 9 is a partial top view according to FIG. 8 showing the setting shaft shifted into engagement with the driving mechanism for the watch hands.

DESCRIPTION or THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT mechanism 'the hands has been mounted.

A setting shaft l3penetrates the bed plate 1 land has a bore at its end 13c. This bored end of shaft 13 is axially shiftably and rotatably mounted on a peg 21, which is fixed in the bed plate 10. The peg 21 carries a collar 22 on which an adjusting disk 16 has been mounted rotatably.

This adjusting disk 16 is provided with two bent lobes 16a and 16b which engage with two elongated holes 10a and 10b provided in the bed plate 10. At the same time, at least one edge of the elongated hole 10b serves as a stop for the bent lobe 16b which is acted upon by return spring 20. The return spring is supported on a pillar 19, and in addition to biasing the bent lobe 16b, also biases a locking pawl 18, with its end 20a, into engagement with the teeth bearing inner rim of a date disk 17. I v I When the adjusting disk 16 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction-from a rest position, a tooth of the date disk 17 will be seized by the bent lobe 160 as a result of which said date disk 17 is moved counterclockwise. When this happens, the locking pawl 18 is lifted up and guided across one tooth, whereupon the pawl 18 drops into the next tooth gap and causes a further movement of the date disk 17 into the next rest position. Subsequently, the adjusting disk 16 will be returned back to its rest position by spring 20 when shaft 13 is released.

This return action may entail a clockwise movement of disk 17 when cam 16a engages the next following or succeeding tooth. However, this clockwise movement will be permitted and immediately followed by a fully restoring counterclockwise movement, due to the resilient, self-centering action of pawl 18 in relation to the two diskteeth with which it is engaged. K

This limited, immediately restored, transient return movement of disk 17, without full restoration of disk 17 to its prior position, is facilitated by the relatively long length of disk tooth engaging surface 18a of pawl 18. in

relation to the length of the shorter surface18b, shown in FIG. 2.

When disk 16 is automatically restored by spring 20, the cam lobe 16a will be disengaged from tooth disk 17. This disengagement will insure that hour hand changing manipulations of shaft 13 will not disturbthe date setting.

The pivoting of the adjusting disk 16 is accomplished by the pivoting of the setting shaft 13 which has been provided with a toothi'ng 13d at its end 13c. The adjusting disk 16 likewise carried annular and facing teeth 160 which constitutes a tooth coupling together with corresponding toothing of the setting shaft 13. In the position of the setting shaft 13 as shown, the tooth coupling 13d, l6c has been coupled. At the same time, the setting shaft 13 is held in its position by means of a spring bar 14 which engages with a groove 13a. When the setting shaft l3 ispulled out from the bed plate 1 l in an axial direction, the spring bar 14 engages with the additional groove 13b. As a result of the axial displacement of the setting shaft 13, the'tooth coupling 13d, 160 is released and gear 15 is brought into engagement with the adjusting wheel 12 through which the hands of the watch maybe set. i I I In the embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4, given by way of example, the numeral 30 designates the bed plate and 31 a bridgejThe setting shaft 33 is provided with three grooves 33a, 33b, and 33c, with which a spring bar 34 may transversely and yieldably engage. When in the inner position illustrated, that is, with spring bar 34 engaging groove 33a, the adjusting disk 36 is within the area of the datedisk 37, while in the middle position, the adjusting disk 36 will be in the area of the adjusting hour wheel 42. In the extreme outside position of the setting shaft 33, the gear 35 engages with a driving mechanism for the hands, so that an adjustment of the hands can be accomplished via this mechanism.

The adjusting disk 36 can be seen in detail in FIG. 4. As shown, the adjusting disk 36 is held with the help of a screw nut 46 on the end 33 of the setting shaft 33d of the setting shaft 33. The adjusting disk 36 contains an elongated hole 36a with which a peg 51 on the bed plate 30 engages. Engagement of the adjusting disk 36 with the peg 51 establishes a limiting position of the pivotal movement of the adjusting disk 36. Furthermore, a spring 52 has been provided which is attached on the adjusting disk 36 and which serves as a peg position indicating spring. The adjusting disk 36 carries two bolts 47 and 48 on which two latches 49 and 50 have been mounted for pivotal movement. The latches are resiliently held in the rest position shown in FIG. 4 by one common spring 53, in which position they are supported with their arms 49b and 50b on the screw nut 46.

Spring 52 has one end 52a anchored on disk 36 and another movable end 52b. Outward movement of end 52b may be restrained by a disk flange 52c, as shown in From the position shown in FIG. 4, the disk 36 is pivoted in a clockwise direction. After overcoming a certain pressure point which is produced by the spring 52 in cooperation with peg 51, arm 49a of latch 49 is moved against a tooth A of the date disk 37, as a result of which the latter is turned in a clockwise direction. When the movement of the disk 36 is reversed under the influence of the shaft 33, the latch 49 will be pivoted in a clockwise direction about bolt 47 upon contact of the latch arm 49a with the next following tooth of the date disk 37. The latch 49 is guided across the latter tooth under the influence of the returning force of the spring 52 and may come to rest, disengaged from any tooth or disk 37. Through a repeated pivoting movement of the disk 36, his possible to move the date disk further by any desired number of steps. In the position of the disk 36 as illustrated, the latch arm 49a is not engaged with a tooth of the date disk 37.

An adjustment of the hour wheel 42 can be accomplished in a manner similar to thatdescribed above for adjusting the date disk, by first outwardly shifting the setting shaft 33 so that spring bar 34 engages groove 33b.

In the case of the watch mechanism shown, two hour wheels 42 and 43 have been provided on the hour tube 41, of which the hour wheel 43 is slidable on the hour tube and is held by a leaf spring 44. Between the two hour wheels 42 and 43, balls 45 have been arranged which engage with corresponding supporting holes and which support the two hour wheels 42 and 43 one against the other. In this manner, it will bepossible to pivot hour wheel 42 with respect to the hour wheel 43 driven by the watch mechanism, so that an adjustment of the time zones becomes possible without impeding the precision of the recording of the time as a result. In this arrangement, the normal gear drive between the hour hand indicating means 42-43 and the minute hand is continuously provided by gear means 40, B, and C.

In this instance, resiliently braced tooth 50 will advancingly cooperate with a toothed periphery of wheel 42, in the same manner that tooth 49 cooperates with the toothed rim of disk 37.

In the most extreme position of the setting shaft 33, that is, when spring bar 34 engages groove 330, the gear 35 engages with a wheel B of the driving mechanism for the hands, as a result of which an adjustment of the minute shaft 39 takes place through connecting gear 40, as permitted by a slip or friction type, spring clutch D FIGS. 5 and 6 show another embodiment of the invention. In these figures, the bed plate has been designated by 60, the bridge by 61, the setting shaft is 63, which in this case has been provided with two grooves 63a and 63b, with which the spring bar 64 can engage. In this case, therefore, the setting shaft 63 may assume two positions in an axial direction. The setting shaft 63 otherwise has been mounted pivotally and longitudinally shiftably on a rotatable peg 76. The peg 76 is connected firmly with the adjusting disk A tooth coupling or axial clutch 82 has been provided between the setting shaft 63 and the peg 76, which in the position of the setting shaft 63 shown in the Figure is closed, so that a transmission of the torque to peg 76 and thus to the adjusting disk 66 takes place.

This adjusting disk 66 can be seen best in FIG. 6. Essentially, it is like the adjusting disk 36 according to FIG. 4. It carries two bolts or pins 77 and 78 on which the latches 79 and 80 have been mounted for pivotal movement. These latches have been connected with one another and jointly biased into a rest position by way of a spring clip 73.

The adjusting disk 66 in addition contains an elongated hole 66a into which a peg 71, arranged firmly on the bed plate 60, protrudes. Laterally from this elongated hole 66a, a cam 66b has been bent out of the disk 66. Cam 66b forms a stop for the return spring 72. The return spring 72 has a U-shaped form and normally holds stop 66b and thereby the adjusting disk 66 in a middle position,'in'which no engagement takes place withthe date disk 67 nor with the hour wheel 72.

When the adjusting disk 66 is turned from themiddle position into the position shown in FIG. 6, in which an adjustment of the date disk 67 takes place, the stop 66b will press with one edge against a leg of the spring 72, while the other leg fits against the peg 71. The spring 72 is dimensioned such that whenthe setting shaft 63 is pivoted to thereby cause the adjusting disk 66 to pivot from its middle position to its limiting position against peg 71, a spring force is exerted to prevent accidental adjustment of the hour wheel when adjustment of the date is taking place. This is so because the spring force will return the adjusting disk to the rest or middle position.

As will be understood, the spring will be mounted on disk 66 so that the U-shaped extremity is fixed to the disk and the legs of the spring are operable to engage opposite ends of rim 66b and thereby tend to resiliently Center" rim 66b relative to peg 71, i.e., maintain peg 71 adjacent the intermediate portion of slot 66a.

As in the case of preceding embodiments, the resiliently braced and pivoted nature of latches 79 and 80 will permit the spring 72 to induce the aforesaid disk restoring action. 7

The time zone adjustment of the hour wheel may take place by a pivoting of the setting shaft 63 in the opposite direction. In this case, the latch 79 engages with a toothed periphery of the hour wheel 83 and causes it to pivot in relation to the second hour wheel 84 as in the case of the FIG. 34 embodiment. The method of operation is the same as in the case of the design given by way of example according to FIGS. 3 and 4, so that this does not have to be discussed here in more detail.

The design according to FIGS. 7 and 9, given by way of example, corresponds substantially to that according to FIGS. 5 and 6.

In this case, the essential difference is the arrangement of the setting shaft 103, which here runs parallel to the dial of the watch. Here, a pair of gears is -shifted via levers'101 and 102. There gears, depending on the position of the setting shaft 103, will come into engagement either with an axially facing, gear toothed edge segment 112a the adjusting disk 112 via a gear 1 16 mounted rotatably on the setting shaft 103, or with gear 113 of the driving mechanisms for the hands. The minute wheel is driven on the minute shaft 114 via the gear 113 of the driving mechanism for the hands. The adjusting disk 1 12 is shown in detail in FIG. 8. Its structure essentially corresponds to that of the design according to FIG. 6 so .that no detailed explanation is required here. i

In FIG. 8, the date disk has been designated by 107, which is held in its rest position by the resilient centering action of latch 108 and spring 109. A wheel 117 is driven by the hour wheel, said wheel having a latch 1 18 which normally causes the time related shifting of the date disk 107.

FIGS. 8, and 9 show the manner in which axial shifting of shaft 103 will induce selection clutching action of gear means 1 10-1 16 or gear means 1 10-1 13.

In FIG. 8, with shaft 103 pushed-in, the shaft has pivoted lever 101 counterclockwise about its pivot mount 120 so as to cause lever cam 1010 to engage a locking recess 102a of lever 102. Lever 102 may be braced clockwise by a spring 121 so as to cause this mode of engagement, thereby shifting lever end 1025 clockwise about pivot mount 122 and inducing mesh- SUMMARY OF ADVANTAGES AND SCOPE OF THE INVENTION Thus, it may be seen that in following the present invention, an improved electric timepiece having a date dial is provided.

Particularly significant is the fact that the setting shaft of the timepiece is axially shiftable to a plurality of functional positions, thereby eliminating the standard non-functional position which has existed heretofore. Of further significance is the fact that the adjusting element is shiftable by the setting shaft to either engage and adjust the date disk or to engage the driving mechanism of the timepiece hands to thereby adjust said hands. These engagements and adjustments are achieved without relative interference therebetween.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with one preferred and three alternative embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that additions, modifications, substitutions, and deletions not specifically described may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. An electric timepiece having a date dial and including:

a date disk and hour hands;

a driving mechanism for driving said hour hands;

an axially shiftable setting shaft; and

an adjustment mechanism, said adjustment mechanism being connected with said setting shaft and including an adjusting element;

actuating means supported by said adjusting element for engaging said date disk and said driving mechanism; and

spring means engaging said adjusting element and operable to bias said actuating means out of driving engagement with said date disk;

. said adjustingelement being pivotable in response to rotation of said setting shaft so that said actuating 8 Y means drivingly engages said date disk when said element is pivoted in one direction; and means being operable to pivot said element in a direction opposite to said one direction and dispose said actuating means in a position disengaged from said date disk. 2. The electric timepiece of claim 1, wherein: said spring means is adapted, when said adjusting element is pivoted to bring said actuating means into driving engagement with said date disk, to be cocked and thereby possess a return force operable to return said actuating means to said disen-,

gaged position. I I

3. An electric timepiece according to claim 1,

wherein:

said adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment element which consists of a pivotably mounted adjusting disk which lies in a plane generally parallel to a plane of said date disk,

. said adjusting disk includes two bent lobes, with one of said lobes being adapted to engage tooth means on said date disk and the other of said lobes being adapted to engage said spring means; and

said mechanism includes stop means operable to secure said actuating means in said disengaged position.

4. The electric timepiece of claim 1, wherein:

said adjusting element is comprised of a pivotably mounted disk supporting said actuating means is supported; and

said actuating means further comprises at least one latch pivotably mounted on said disk and spring biased to an actuating position, operable to drivingly engage said date disk.

5. The electric timepiece of claim 1, wherein:

the adjusting element has been fixed in an axial direction; and

said timepiece includes coupling means operable to engage said setting shaft with said element as a result of said axial shifting of said setting shaft in one direction.

6. The electric timepiece of claim 1, wherein:

said adjusting element is operable to shift in an axial direction in response to axial shifting of said setting shaft, and

said adjusting element is operable to position said actuating means in driving engagement with said date disk or said hour hand driving mechanism when disposed, respectively, at first and second, axially displaced locations.

7. The electric timepiece of claim 1, wherein:

said adjustment element is pivotable between two end positions;

said adjustment element, in one end position, being operable to dispose said actuating means in driving engagement with said date disk; and

said adjustment element, being operable to dispose said actuating means in driving engagement with said hour hand driving mechanism.

8. The electric timepiece of claim 1, wherein:

said driving mechanism for driving said hour hands includes shaft means,

first and second hour hand means mounted on said shaft means and operable to adjust a change in hour hand position without adjusting minute hand means,

yieldable means interconnecting said first and second hour hand means,

said first hour hand-means being drivenly engageable with said actuating means, and

. said second hour hand means being drivenly engaged with said minute hand means. 9. The electric timepiece of claim 8, wherein:

said yieldable means comprises yieldably biased de- 

1. An electric timepiece having a date dial and including: a date disk and hour hands; a driving mechanism for driving said hour hands; an axially shiftable setting shaft; and an adjustment mechanism, said adjustment mechanism being connected with said setting shaft and including an adjusting element; actuating means supported by said adjusting element for engaging said date disk and said driving mechanism; and spring means engaging said adjusting element and operable to bias said actUating means out of driving engagement with said date disk; said adjusting element being pivotable in response to rotation of said setting shaft so that said actuating means drivingly engages said date disk when said element is pivoted in one direction; and means being operable to pivot said element in a direction opposite to said one direction and dispose said actuating means in a position disengaged from said date disk.
 2. The electric timepiece of claim 1, wherein: said spring means is adapted, when said adjusting element is pivoted to bring said actuating means into driving engagement with said date disk, to be cocked and thereby possess a return force operable to return said actuating means to said disengaged position.
 3. An electric timepiece according to claim 1, wherein: said adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment element which consists of a pivotably mounted adjusting disk which lies in a plane generally parallel to a plane of said date disk, said adjusting disk includes two bent lobes, with one of said lobes being adapted to engage tooth means on said date disk and the other of said lobes being adapted to engage said spring means; and said mechanism includes stop means operable to secure said actuating means in said disengaged position.
 4. The electric timepiece of claim 1, wherein: said adjusting element is comprised of a pivotably mounted disk supporting said actuating means is supported; and said actuating means further comprises at least one latch pivotably mounted on said disk and spring biased to an actuating position, operable to drivingly engage said date disk.
 5. The electric timepiece of claim 1, wherein: the adjusting element has been fixed in an axial direction; and said timepiece includes coupling means operable to engage said setting shaft with said element as a result of said axial shifting of said setting shaft in one direction.
 6. The electric timepiece of claim 1, wherein: said adjusting element is operable to shift in an axial direction in response to axial shifting of said setting shaft, and said adjusting element is operable to position said actuating means in driving engagement with said date disk or said hour hand driving mechanism when disposed, respectively, at first and second, axially displaced locations.
 7. The electric timepiece of claim 1, wherein: said adjustment element is pivotable between two end positions; said adjustment element, in one end position, being operable to dispose said actuating means in driving engagement with said date disk; and said adjustment element, being operable to dispose said actuating means in driving engagement with said hour hand driving mechanism.
 8. The electric timepiece of claim 1, wherein: said driving mechanism for driving said hour hands includes shaft means, first and second hour hand means mounted on said shaft means and operable to adjust a change in hour hand position without adjusting minute hand means, yieldable means interconnecting said first and second hour hand means, said first hour hand means being drivenly engageable with said actuating means, and said second hour hand means being drivenly engaged with said minute hand means.
 9. The electric timepiece of claim 8, wherein: said yieldable means comprises yieldably biased detent means interconnecting recess means of said first and second hour hand means.
 10. The electric timepiece of claim 9, wherein: said second hour hand means is shiftably supported on said shaft means; said detent means comprises a plurality of balls resting between and in a plurality of recesses of said first and second hour hand means; and said yieldable means includes spring means biasing said second hour hand means toward said first hour hand means. 